The Interparliamentary Union (IPU) is unable to accept Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s appeal to suspend her from the Senate, according to Senator Jimoh Ibrahim of the Ondo South Senatorial District. He asserts that the only states with the authority to petition the IPU are member states, not private citizens. As a result, Natasha’s appeal is meaningless in the context of the organization.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
Providing further clarification on the workings of the IPU, Ibrahim explained that Nigeria, as a nation, is the recognized member of the union, not any individual legislator. He stressed that a petition can only be filed by one member state against another, making Natasha’s attempt invalid from the outset. His statement was aimed at dismissing any expectations that the IPU would intervene in her suspension case.
In a report by Daily Post, Ibrahim, who previously served as the interim President of the IPU in Geneva in 2023, asserted that he had firsthand knowledge of the organization’s procedures. He emphasized that Natasha, as a suspended senator, has no official standing in the IPU and cannot represent Nigeria in any capacity. This, he argued, further invalidates her petition and makes it legally insignificant.
As the Chairman of the Interparliamentary Committee in the Nigerian Senate, Ibrahim also revealed that he did not authorize Natasha to attend any IPU meetings on behalf of Nigeria. He pointed out that such representation would typically require approval, which she did not have. His statement reinforced his position that Natasha’s petition lacked legitimacy within the international parliamentary framework.
In his words, “as Chairman of the Interparliamentary Committee in the Nigerian Senate, I did not approve or authorize the suspended Senator Natasha to attend the IPU on behalf of Nigeria to the Senate President.”CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
